from the page.
" 'Chapelvale (circa 1340), medieval village land. Granted to a Sea Captain (origin and name unknown) by the
Black Prince, Edward III. Church built there, later to become an almshouse. Used by wayfaring poor and mendicant
monks. Second church building (circa 1673) following Test Act and persecution of Catholics under Charles II. Mainly
pasture and some agriculture. Middle England village with square. Nearby town Hadford.' "
Ben scanned the page in silence awhile before looking up. "Nothing more of any real interest here. Thank you,
sir. Is there anything else about Chapelvale in your library?"
Mr. Braithwaite rocked back and forth on his heels. "Any what? Oh, er, hmmm. No no, nothing, er, I'm afraid!"
Ben signaled his friends with a nod. "Many thanks for your help, sir. We've got to go now. Good-bye!"
The stooped librarian stood watching them leave, searching for the pencil behind his ear, which had fallen
earlier. "Quite, er, yes. Good-bye, er, er.... Call again if there's anything you should, er, need, very good, very good,
yes!"
They emerged from the library into the sunlit late morning. Ben chuckled. "What an odd old fogey."
Without warning Alex went pale. He turned to go back into the library. Ben checked him, noting his frightened
look.
"Steady on, there. What's the matter with you, pal?"
Staring straight ahead, Amy answered for her brother. "It's the Grange Gang!"
Wilf Smithers, Regina Woodworthy, and the gang had formed a semicircle about the library steps, blocking the
way.
Ben threw an arm around the younger boy. "Stick with me, they won't bother us, pal!"
As they started down the steps, Wilf and Regina circled either side of them, their aim to get behind the trio and
cut off any retreat. Wilf pinched Alex's cheek and smiled maliciously.
"Hello, it's little Alexandra!"
Clearly terrified, the boy turned beetroot red and kept silent.
This encouraged the bully, who sniggered. "Alexandra's gone all shy. Blushing, are we, Alexandra?"
Amy came fearlessly to her brother's defense. Whirling on Wilf, she shouted at him defiantly. "He's not
Alexandra, his name is Alexander! You big bully, why don't you go away and leave us alone?"
Wilf pretended he had not heard her, but Regina positioned herself in front of the smaller girl. She stood
blocking Amy's path, arms folded and a sneer on her face, which was red and bruised from her fall off the garden wall
a day earlier.
"Are you going to make us go away, eh?".
Smiling at the results of his dog's chase, Ben addressed the Grange Gang girl in a friendly tone. "That's a nasty
bruise on your face, what happened to you?"
Wilf was two steps above Ben. He turned on the newcomer. "It's none of your business. Anyhow, who are you?
An' what do you want around here?"
Smiling even wider, the boy shrugged. "Oh, I'm nobody really, just been to the library to catch up on a bit of
reading. But I don't imagine reading interests you. No, you look more like the type who likes to color in the pictures."
The rest of the gang looked at one another, shocked. You didn't talk to Wilf Smithers like that. The village bully
was the biggest, strongest boy in Chapelvale, and he had a reputation for being quick-tempered and extremely violent.
Wilf's face turned brick red at the stranger's insult. Clenching both fists, he snarled dangerously. "I'll color your face
in for you, smart mouth!"
Amy shook with fright as Wilf launched himself down the steps, fists swinging. Ben was bound to get hurt.
However, the smaller, towheaded lad stood there, still smiling, as if unaware of the danger. Moving a swift
half-pace to one side, he turned to face Alex. "D'you think he's upset?" Ben ducked his head slightly.
It was a perfectly timed move. Wilf's fist actually brushed the back of Ben's hair, then he went sailing past his
victim, carried by his own impetus. Stumbling awkwardly, he fell down the last four steps onto the gravel path.
Before anyone could react, the boy skipped nimbly down and began hauling Wilf upright, helpfully brushing the
bully's clothing off.
"What a dreadful fall. Are you all right? Easy now, friend. Hope you haven't broken anything!" Wilf's nose had
scraped the gravel, and a swelling was starting to show on his forehead. He shoved free of Ben's hands.
"Leggo of me, I'm no friend of yours!"
The smile had never left Ben's face for a moment. "Oh, what a shame, I hoped we would be pals. I was looking
to make new friends in Chapelvale."
The bullying girl grabbed Amy's arm, digging her nails in cruelly. "I'll be seeing you around!"
But she instantly released her hold, wincing painfully. Ben had her other hand in a curious grip and was shaking
it heartily.
"Any friend of Amy's is a pal of mine. Hope I'll see you around, too. Look, Alex, I'm making new friends
already!"
He released Regina's hand. She shot a furious glance at Wilf, who called to the rest of the gang. "Let's get
them!"
Ben placed himself in front of Alex and Amy, backing slowly up the steps as the gang members began closing
in. He whispered to his friends. "Get out of here, make a run for it. It's me they want!"
Alex was about to dash off, but his sister caught his arm. "We're not going without you, Ben!"
Before she could say any more they were surrounded. There was a panicked squeak from Tommo, the fat boy,
followed by a deep, rumbling snarl. The gang froze!
The black Labrador had come up behind them like a phantom. Hair bristling, muscles bunched, he stood
panther-like, ready to spring to the attack, quivering lips pulled back to reveal his powerful canine fangs.
Ben's hand went up. "Stay, boy. ... Stay!"
Regina pulled a small gang member in front of her for safety. "It's the dog! Do you own it?"
Seating himself on the steps, Ben shook his head. "Who, me? No, I don't own him, he just follows me about.
Haha! He must like me, 'cos he's not too friendly with anyone who tries to harm me or my friends. Ned, come on, boy,
good dog!"
Stiff-legged and growling with menace, the big, black dog stalked up to stand beside his mate, throwing out a
thought. "Let me chase 'em, just for exercise. That big one, Wilf, I'll rip the seat out of his pants! I don't like him one
bit!"
Ben took hold of Ned's collar. "Thanks anyway, but you stay put for the moment. Carry on with your fierce dog
act."
Ned strained against Ben's hold on his collar, rearing up on his hind legs as if trying to get at the gang. Ben did
his part by showing difficulty holding the dog back and calling, "You'd best get going, pals, but walk, don't run,
whatever you do. Go on, I'll keep him here until you're well out of the way!"
Amy had never seen the Grange Gang go so carefully. They retreated as if they were walking on eggs. From a
distance, Wilf turned and pointed a finger at Ben.
"I'll see you again, when you haven't got that dog with you!"
The blue-eyed boy waved cheerily. "That'll be nice, Wilf, take care of those scratches on your nose. It's red
enough as it is!"
Mr. Braithwaite emerged from the library, scratching his head. "Er, could you stop your dog barking, please ?
Hmm, I can, er, hear it, y'know, in the, er, er, library. Oh, it's stopped, hmm, very good, very good. Nice doggie, er,
run along now."
Ned sent Ben a thought. "Huh, if I scratched as much as he does, you'd prob'ly say I had fleas and make me take
a bath!" The towheaded lad could not help laughing aloud.